uneducated
This term describes a lack of formal schooling or a deficiency in specialized knowledge. While it can be a neutral description of someone's academic history, it often carries a negative social connotation, implying a lack of sophistication, polish, or intellectual refinement. In professional or critical contexts, the word shifts from describing a lack of degrees to describing a lack of discernment or cultural awareness. It suggests a state of being uninformed or crude regarding a specific subject or social etiquette.
Meanings
Lacking a formal education or schooling.
"He grew up in a remote village and remained largely uneducated."
Lacking knowledge, culture, or refinement in a particular area of interest.
"The critic dismissed the review as the work of an uneducated observer."